Dispenser for dry materials



June 15, 1943. c, STANYER 2,321,869

DISPENSER FOR DRY MATERIALS Filed Dec. 16, 1940 2. sheets-sheet '1 F/G. 2. H6712.

2, f INVENTOR. 4 62,4 /vcf 5TM/VER Patented June 15, 1943 UNHTED STATES PTE? vGFFICE DSPENSER FOR DRY TMTERIALS Clarence Stanyer, South Pasadena, Calif. applicaties December 16, 1940, serial Ns. 370,563

(ol. 2er- 106),

4 Claims.

This invention relates to and lhas for a main object the Iprovision of a dispenser for drycOmminuted materials, particularly but not only coffee which usually is purveyed in metal cans and glass jars. The cans are usually hermetically sealed by soldering the lids on ends of the cans, and the lids must be removed before the contents can be removed for use. In such case, the lids do not fit the cans closely enough to prevent deterioration of the contents. Similarly, when the materials are purveyed in glass jars the lids are usually screwed on to the jars and if too loosely held causes deterioration of the material, and if held tightly enough to prevent deterioration, the

lids are removed with diliculty.

Hence, it is an object `of my invention to providea combined closure and dispenser to be used as a substitute for the original closures on the purveyed containers and applicable with equally good results to either metal or glass containers. Thus, my combination closures and dispensers may be used over and over again on successive original containers, and, in addition to such an advantage, embodies accurate means for measuring successive quantities of material and dispensing the same without removing the closures from the containers.

Moreover, l2v prefer to form my dispensing closures Ioi molded plastic material which is not only economical in cost and requires a minimum cf labor cost per unit, but also, lends itself to attractive ornamentation and coloration.

A further object is to provide a simple and effective means for removably attaching the closure and dispenser to either a metal o-r glass container and to seal the container against the atmosphere when the dispenser is operated or idle so that deterioration of the contents of the containers cannot occur. Y

Other objects will appear as the description of my improvements progresses. I have shown several forms of dispensers embodying my invention in the accompanying drawings, subject to further modication, within the scope ci the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my dispenser attached to a glass container, as seen o-n line l-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation ci the same on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the dispenser as seen from the bottom of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the same, showing a modified form of dispenser, on line 4 4 of Fig. 6; n

Fig. 5 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation ofthe modified form of dispenser as seen on line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a, sectional elevation of a still different form of dispenser adapted for application to and shown in connection with a metal container for coffee or other dry materials, on line 'l-'l of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the same on line 8--8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a planof the form of dispenser shown in and as seen from the bottom of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the form of dispenser shown in Figs. 7, V8

and 9; l y

Fig. 11 is a plan View similar to Fig. 9, but showing the dispenser in the center instead of at a side of the container; y

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the same on line I2--l2 of Fig. 11; and

Figs. 13 and 1d are, respectively, a plan and a sectional elevation of a dispenser, similar to the form shown in Figs. 11 and 12, except for the fact that thev dispenser is differently positionedwith respect to the metal container.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which illustratea form of dispenser preferably formed of plastic material and adapted to be applied Afor use to av glass orfmetal container C havinga central opening therein and an externally threaded neck to` which the original closures (not shown) are usually applied when the materials are purveyed., the particular form of dispensingvmeans shown includes a closure body I in which is detachably mounted a cylindrical dispenser or measuring member D, and an annular retaining ring R by means of which the dispenser is removably attached to the container C in lieu of the originall closures. y

Body I is formed withV a circular flange 2 adapted to overlie the end of container C, as shown in Fig. 1, and is extended from said flange so as to provide a barrel 3 with an elongated cylindrical bore gli which is closed at one end by a wall 5 and has an opening 6 at its other end in order that the dispenser D may be inserted in operative position y in the bore 4 through the opening 5. Intermediate the bore 4 and the upper face of flange 2, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a throat 1 which has at least two of its sides bevelled as at 8 so that when held on the container() the material from the interior rof container C will readily fall downwardly into said throat, the container being always inverted from its normally upright position during a dispensing operation.

Dispenser D is of cylindrical form with closed ends 9 and ID and a cylindrical wall II having a single full length opening I2 adapted to alternately register with the opening of throat 1 and an outlet I3 in the bottom of body I, for, respectively, charging the interior of the dispenser with and discharging the materials from the dispenser for use in uniformly measured quantities. Dispenser may be removably held in body I by means of a frictional pin I4 extended through axially disposed openings in end 5 of the body and end S of the dispenser, as shown in Fig. 1, or otherwise.

The open end of body I is provided with diametrically opposite shoulders I5 and I6 adapted to be engaged by a stop member II removably carried on the end IIJ of the dispenser and overlying the end of the barrel 3, so that the rotation of the dispenser in the barrel is limited by said shoulders to exact positions of registration with the throat I and the outlet I3. Dispenser D is provided externally on its cylindrical wall I I with a plurality of longitudinally disposed shallow ribs f I8 engageable with the bore 4 of body I so as to occasion only a minimum of friction in the operation of the dispenser and also to prevent, as far as possible the clogging of the dispenser by the entrance of minute particles of the material between the periphery of the dispenser and the barrel. Said ribs actually serve as scavengers which tend to discharge any accumulated particles of matter through outlet I3. As shown in Fig. 2, an

arrow or other indicia, as at I9, may be provided on the end of an operating knob which is applied to or integral with the cylinder D for indicating the correct position of the dispenser when dispensing materials, said knob serving to be manually operated for rotating the dispenser D.

In the form of dispenser just described, the measuring member D hasbut a single pocket P which is of the exact size to contain a requisite quantity of material, such as coffee, for each cup of the beverage desired to be made.

Now, referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the form of dispenser here shown is different from the form previously described only in the provision of a slightly larger dispenser D which is provided with two pockets P, P instead of a single pocket, said pockets being separated by a central partition 2 I, so that when the dispenser is inoperative, the uppermost pocket will be in registration with the throat 'I for receiving a charge of fresh material from container C while the lowermost pocket will be in registration with the outlet I 3 for discharging the contents of the pocket. This form of device requires a slightly enlarged barrel 3 and dispenser D (in diameter) but no longer and probably shorter than the single pocket form of device. In all other respects, the two forms are similar in structure and operation, the rotation of the dispenser to an extent of one-half of a revolution at each operation being required.

In Figs. 7 to 14, inclusive, I have shown a form of device, with minor modications for adapting the device for use on metal containers, such as for coffee, which, in order to obtain access to the original containers and the extraction of the contents thereof for use, requires the removal of the original metal closures which are usually soldered and thereby sealed on the cans C', after which the closures are either used on the cans or the contents are transferred to other sealed receptacles so as to prevent deterioration of the contents. In this connection, it may be stated that the preservation of the flavor of the materials requires the sealing of the containers from which the materials are dispensed against the atmosphere as perfectly as possible, for which purpose the original closures do not suffice.

Hence, I provide a dispenser applicable to metal containers of such character, which, in general partakes of all of the structural characteristics of the forms herein previously described and is capable of production of plastic material as in the case of the other forms, but is preferably subject to different arrangements of parts for more convenient usage and operation. Principally, the different arrangements shown in Figs. 7 to 14, inclusive, apply only to the positioning of the dispenser relative to the containers C' and embody only such structural differences as may be necessary to accommodate the dispenser to such changes, as will be obvious from a consideration of the several illustrations. Thus, the following description will apply uniformly to all of the last mentioned formsl of device.

The metal containers C usually hold a pound of colee and have closure receiving portions 22 from which the original closures have been removed for application of my closure thereto, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, for instance.

I provide on. the body I a comparatively enlarged flange 2 for this type of container which serves to close the opening in the top of the can and has an annular lip 24 tightly fitting the portion 22 of the can and is provided with a bead 25 somewhat corresponding in form to the bead 26 usually formed on the bottoms of the cans C'. My combined closure and dispenser is held on the can in the position shown for dispensing materials by means of a plurality of spring members 2'I which have central bulges 28 and terminal hooks 29 and 3E), respectively, for engagement with the bottom bead 25 and the bead 25 of the closure, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Said closure retainers removably hold the dispenser on the can C and may have short extensions 3| over the flange 2 whereby the retainers may be removed preparatory to removing the closure and dispenser for transfer to another container.

The containers being much larger than the dispensers in at least some cases, it is desirable to position the dispenser eccentrically on the flange 2', as shown, for instance, in Fig. 9, in order to obviate the necessity of too greatly extending the dispenser barrel from the flange 2 so as to afford easy access to the operating member 2D.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a combined closure and dispenser for dry materials which is extremely economical in manufacturing cost, is sanitary, capable of disassembly for the purpose of cleaning and renewal of parts if necessary, serves to seal the containers against atmosphere and deterioration of the contents, economizes in the use of materials by accurate measurement thereof in uniform and desired quantities, and readily lends itself to ornamentation and use on practically all types of metal or glass containers.

Moreover, my dispenser is designed for use as a substitute for the closures of the original containers and may therefore be retained for and used on successive containers for various products, repeatedly, with uniformly good results, economy and convenience.

What I claim is:

l. A dispenser for comminuted materials cornprising: in combination with an original container in which the material is purveyed, a dispenser interchangeably attachable to the containers in lieu of the original closures therefor and including a body member forming a substitute closure for the container and provided with a chamber for receiving quantities of the material from the container, a pocketed measuring member rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber having an inlet from the container and an outlet spaced from said inlet, said measuring member having an opening adapted to selectively register with the inlet and outlet of said chamber for, respectively, charging the measuring member with and dispensing materials therefrom, said chamber and said measuring member each having generally cylindrical Walls arranged one Within the other, one of said walls having shallow peripheral ribs formed thereon paralleling the axis of said measuring member for engagement with the other Wall so as to minimize the friction between said walls in the operation of the dispenser.

2. A dispenser for comminuted materials comprising: a body removably attachable to a container at the vopen end thereof, means for attaching the dispenser to the container, said body having a cylindrical dispensing chamber having an inlet to the container and a dispensing outlet, a cylindrical pocketed dispensing member rotatable in said chamber and provided with peripheral ribs parallelin-g the axis of the pocketed member, and cooperating means on said body and said dispenser for limiting the movement of the dispenser to and from charging and discharging positions relative to said inlet and outlet.

3. A dispenser for comminuted materials comprising: a body removably attachable to a container at the open end thereof and having an inlet, means for attaching the dispenser to thel container, said body having a cylindrical dispensing chamber having an inlet to the container and a dispensing outlet, a cylindrical pocketed dispensing member rotatable in said chamber having longitudinally disposed peripheral ribs engaging the Wall of said chamber, and cooperating means on said body and said dispenser for limiting the movement of the dispenser to and from charging and discharging positions relative to said inlet and outlet, and means at one end of said dispenser for rotating the same in said chamber.

4. A dispenser for comminuted materials cornprising: a body removably attachable to a container adapted to "close the open end of the container, means for attaching the dispenser to the container, said body having a cylindrical dispensing chamber having an inlet to the container and a dispensing outlet, a cylindrical pocketed dispensing :member` rotatable in said chamber, and cooperating means on said body and said dispenser for limiting the movement of the dispenser to and from charging and discharging positions relative to said inlet and outlet, said dispenser havin-g longitudinally disposed peripheral ribs engageable with the wall of said chamber, for reducing friction and scavenging said `cylinder in the operation of the dispenser.

CLARENCE STAN'YER. 

